Service window controlled seat conveyor system

ABSTRACT

A seat conveyor system is incorporated in a large room for moving persons over the floor area from a designated entrance area to a designated exit area adjacent to a plurality of service windows in the room. The arrangement is such that individual persons entering the entrance area can be seated while waiting in line for service at any one of the service windows.

- United States Patent [191 Oliver June 4, 1974 [54] SERVICE WINDOW CONTRQLLED SEAT 3,034,665 5/1962 Speaker.... l98/l8l X C N SYSTEM 3,057,487 10/1962 Martinez 104/25 X inventor: Louise Oliver, 538 W. 79th St., Los

Angeles, Calif. 90044 Filed: July 9, 1973 Appl. No.: 377,571

US. Cl 104/25, 198/181 Int. Cl 862d 55/00 Field of Search 104/25; 198/181 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1922 Meyer 104/25 X Primary Examiner-Lloyd L. King Assistant Examiner-Andres Kashnikow Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Past0riza & Kelly 5 7 ABSTRACT A seat conveyor system is incorporated in a large room for moving persons over the floor area from a designated entrance area to a designated exit area adjacent to a plurality of service windows in the room. The arrangement is such that individual persons entering the entrance area can be seated while waiting in line for service at any one of the service windows.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures SERVICE WINDOW CONTROLLED SEAT CONVEYOR SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In commercial banks, savings and loan associations, post offices, and the like there are normally provided a'plurality of service windows for servicing customers. During crowded hours, several lines are formed at each window. The progress of each line depends upon the time taken for services by persons in the line and it is often a frustrating situation where a particular customer or person has a small service to be rendered which would take a short period of time and yet he is forced to wait in a line which might progress very slowly. Since there is no way that a person can tell which line is progressing the fastest, he can only guess by looking around and sometimes he will change lines and then be further frustrated since one person in the line to which he has changed takes an unduly long amount of time in completing his particular transaction.

The foregoing problem has been alleviated to a substantial extent by providing for a single line with an exit area adjacent to the several windows. Every customer stands in this single line and as any one window becomes available for service, the head customer in the line will then approach that particular window.

The use of a single line has been highly successful and removes the heretofore mentioned frustrations of the various customers. On the other hand, since only a single line is formed the line itself can become quite long and standing in the line can be uncomfortable particularly for elderly or disabled people.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION With the above in mind, a primary purpose for the present invention is to provide a seat conveyor system in combination with a plurality of service windows which substitutes for the line of customers so that the customers or people can be seated comfortably while waiting for service. The motion of the seat conveyor system in turn is under control of personnel in each of the service windows so that the seats can be moved when window becomes available to position the next customer adjacent to the exit area for service.

Thus, the invention comprises essentially track means on the floor area closed on itself to define an endless loop in the floor area when viewed in plan. A portion of the track means passes under the floor adjacent to the exit area to follow a subterranean passage. This portion of track passes up through the floor adjacent to the entrance area. The remaining portion of the track means follows along the floor area from the entrance area to the exit area. A train of individual seats coupled together is mounted for movement on the track means.

Each service window includes a switch means for operating a motor means to move the train of seats along the track means when energized.

With the foregoing arrangement, customers may form effectively a single line while in a comfortable seated position. By passing a portion of the track means and thus the train of seats through a subterranean passage, a minimum of floor space is utilized, the seat conveyor system forming a continuous loop so that it functions similarly to an escalator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A better understanding of the invention will be had by referring to one embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: 7

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a large floor area incorporating service windows and the seat conveyor system of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross-section in elevation taken in the direction of the arrows 2--2 of FIG. 1; and,

FIG. 3 is another fragmentary crosssection taken in the direction of the arrows 3-3 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring first to the plan view of FIG. 1 there is shown generally a large floor area 10 which might constitute the floor area in a large room such as in a bank lobby, post office, or similar area. In the lower front portion of FIG. I there is designated an entrance area 11 and in the upper central portion of FIG. 1 an exit area 12.

The exit area 12 is positioned adjacent to a plurality of service windows l3, l4, l5, and 16. While only four such service windows have been shown, it will be understood that there may be several more.

In accord with the invention, there is provided a track means 17 closed on itself to define an endless loop on the floor area when viewed in plan as in FIG. 1. A portion of this track means designated 17a passes under the floor adjacent to the exit area as at 18 to follow a subterranean passage 19. This passage indicated at dotted lines in FIG. 1 passes up through the floor adjacent to the entrance area at 20.

The remaining portion of the track means ,follows along the floor area as indicated at 17b from the entrance area 11 to the exit area 12. As shown in FIG. 1, there is provided a train of individual seats 21 coupled together and mounted for movement on the track means in a clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow. I

Referring momentarily to the elevational fragmentary view of FIG. 2, it will be noted that each of the seats 21 includes wheels 22 for riding on the track means 17. Any suitable drive means may be provided for moving the. various seats along the track means. Referring back to FIG. 1 there is indicated by the dotted lines a motor 23 coupled to a large star gear 24 arranged to engage a suitable flexible ring gear or rack" like structure on the lower back of the various seats 21.

The foregoing coupling can best be seen in FIG. 3 wherein the flexible ring gear or rack is indicated at 25 in engagement with the star gear 24.

Referring once again to FIG. 1, it will be noted that each of the service windows includes a switch means which might take the form of a push button as shown at 26, 27, 28, and 29. Each of these switch means connect as indicated by the dashed line 30 to the motor means so that the operation of any one of the switch means or push buttons will energize the motor means to thereby move the train of seats. At least one set of red and green lights is positioned at the entrance area as indicated at 31. These red and green lights shown at 32 and 33 respectively are connected to be energized in a manner such that the red light only is energized only when the seats are moving and the green light only is energized when the seats are stationary.

Preferably, an additional set of red and green lights 34 is provided adjacent to the exit area 12 for easy visibility by persons adjacent to the exit area. For these additional lights, the red light is indicated at 35 and the green light 36 and they will be energized in the same manner as the red and green lights 32 and 33.

In order to define clearly the entrance and exit portions, there may be provided a series of posts with interconnecting cords as indicated at 37 to define a ropedoff area about the portion of the track means and seat train on the surface of the floor.

OPERATION In operation, the train of seats 21 will normally be in a stationary position. Customers enteringthe floor area will pass through the entrance portion 11 and walk between the barrier 37 and various seats towards the exit area and occupy successively available seats closest to the exit area.

Whenever any one of the service windows has completed a transaction with one customer and is free to service a next customer, the particular person at that window will operate his push button to thereby energize the train of seats and move them a distance corresponding to the width of one seat. At this time, the red light 32 at the entrance area and 35 at the exit area will be energized so that no persons will attempt to sit down on one of the seats or get up from one of the seats while the seats are in motion. When the seats stop, the green lights 33 and 36 at the entrance and exit area will be energized so that the customer may then be seated at the entrance area and the customer on the last seat at the exit area will then get up and approach the particular window that is free for service.

The process is simply repeated as the other service windows become available for service.

It will be understood, of course, that if there is not a large crowd, customers may simply stand in the line defined by the roped-off area and seats and proceed immediately to available windows. The seats would only be used under crowded conditions wherein a relatively long period of time is required to reach one of the available windows.

By providing a portion of tracks in a subterranean passage as described in FIG. 1, the entrance and exit areas are properly defined and further there is a minimum of floor space used up. Further, access to the floor area within the portion of seats traveling on the surface of the floor is readily available. In this particular area, there might be provided service desks and the like for use by customers.

By providing an endless loop arrangement for the train of seats, the same may operate in a manner similarly to an escalator, the seats always moving in one direction.

From the foregoing description, it will thus be evident that the present invention has provided a convenient means for guiding people or customers to appropriate service windows without the necessity of long standing waits in a line. It is particularly useful for elderly people or disabled people.

What is claimed is: v

1. A service window controlled seat conveyor system for moving persons .over a floor area in a large room from a designated entrance area to a designated exit area on the floor, comprising, in combination:

a. a plurality of service windows in the room close to the exit area, each service window being designed to render a service to any person approaching the window from said exit area;

b. track means on the floor area closed on itself to define an endless loop in the floor area when viewed in plan, a portion of the track means passing under the floor adjacent to the exit area to follow a subterranean passage and passing up through the floor adjacent to the entrance area, the remaining track means following along the floor surface from the entrance area to the exit areaf c. a train of individual seats coupled together and mounted for movement on the track means;

d. motor means for moving the train of seats along the track means when energized; and

e. switch means at each of said service windows connected to said motor means for energizing the motor means whereby any one service personnel at a service window can energize said motor means to move said train of seats to position at which a person may exit from a seat at the exit area and approach said service window for service so that elderly people need not stand while waiting in line for service.

2. A system according to claim 1, including at least one set of red and green lights positioned at said entrance area and connected such that the red light is energized whenever the seats are moving and the green light is energized whenever the seats are stationary.

3. A system according to claim 2, including at least one additional set of red and green lights positioned at the exit area and connected such that the red light is energized whenever the seats are moving and the green light is energized whenever the seats are stationary. 

1. A service window controlled seat conveyor system for moving persons over a floor area in a large room from a designated entrance area to a designated exit area on the floor, comprising, in combination: a. a plurality of service windows in the room close to the exit area, each service window being designed to render a service to any person approaching the window from said exit area; b. track means on the floor area closed on itself to define an endless loop in the floor area when viewed in plan, a portion of the track means passing under the floor adjacent to the exit area to follow a subterranean passage and passing up through the floor adjacent to the entrance area, the remaining track means following along the floor surface from the entrance area to the exit area; c. a train of individual seats coupled together and mounted for movement on the track means; d. motor means for moving the train of seats along the track means when energized; and e. switch means at each of said service windows connected to said motor means for energizing the motor means whereby any one service personnel at a service window can energize said motor means to move said train of seats to position at which a person may exit from a seat at the exit area and approach said service window for service so that elderly people need not stand while waiting in line for service.
 2. A system according to claim 1, including at lEast one set of red and green lights positioned at said entrance area and connected such that the red light is energized whenever the seats are moving and the green light is energized whenever the seats are stationary.
 3. A system according to claim 2, including at least one additional set of red and green lights positioned at the exit area and connected such that the red light is energized whenever the seats are moving and the green light is energized whenever the seats are stationary. 